'Drake' Elm Peeling Bark: Normal and Beautiful

If your eight-year-old 'Drake' elms are shedding bark in strips, don't worry—it's a feature, not a flaw. 'Drake' (Ulmus parvifolia) is a Chinese elm cultivar, kin to 'Allee' and 'Athena', selected in Athens, GA. All are called lacebark elms for their exfoliating bark, which reveals a mosaic of gray, green, orange, and brown each fall. They have an upright, graceful form and resist Dutch elm disease. The peeling is seasonal and signals a healthy, mature tree.